Boulder County Commissioners will not amend the county's Minimum Wage Ordinance this year

On Oct. 14, the Left Hand Valley Courier emailed Gloria Handyside, Communications Director for the Boulder County Commissioners, inquiring whether the Commissioners planned to amend Boulder County's minimum wage ordinance, in light of the recent breakdown of the Consortium of Cities (COC) regional approach to establishing a county-wide minimum wage. The ordinance sets the minimum wage in unincorporated Boulder County at a higher rate than incorporated areas in the county. Handyside responded on Oct. 15, stating, "The board will not be amending the county's Local Minimum Wage Ordinance this year."

The COC consists of the cities of Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Boulder and the town of Erie. It now also includes non-voting representatives from Niwot. The COC is an organization that fosters interaction and communication among local governments.

During the summer of 2023, the five members of the COC created the Regional Minimum Wage Working Group. They directed the group to study Boulder County's regional economy, engage the community regarding a potential minimum wage increase, and work with ECOnorthwest, a consultant hired by the COC, to prepare an economic analysis. The Left Hand Valley Courier has covered this issue extensively.

The breakdown of the COC's regional approach led each municipality to pursue independent approaches to the minimum wage issue. The City of Louisville's City Council has not scheduled any future meetings on the topic. The Town of Erie opted against pursuing a minimum wage increase. The City of Longmont is still in deliberations. The City of Lafayette has added the minimum wage issue to its 2025 work plan. The City of Boulder recently raised its minimum wage to a lower rate than unincorporated Boulder County.

The cumulative effect of these independent decisions could create minimum wage disparities across the county, resulting in uneven wage distribution and disproportionately higher labor costs. This may negatively impact smaller communities and industries throughout unincorporated Boulder County, including Niwot, Hygiene, Allenspark, Eldorado Springs, Gold Hill, and small local farms.

On Oct. 25, the Left Hand Valley Courier contacted Handyside asking the Boulder County Commissioners to clarify why they chose not to consider amending the minimum wage ordinance this year, especially given that most cities and towns-apart from Boulder-will not raise their minimum wage. The Courier also inquired if the Commissioners were concerned about potentially putting businesses in unincorporated Boulder County at a competitive disadvantage.

On Oct. 31, Handyside responded. "In November 2023, the Boulder County Commissioners unanimously passed the county's local minimum wage ordinance to respond to the needs of unincorporated Boulder County's lowest-paid workers in the face of the rising cost of living. The commissioners are motivated to support Boulder County residents in meeting basic needs and maintaining their dignity and quality of life. They believe that when our lowest-paid workers thrive, we all thrive. The Boulder County Commissioners will continue to work with municipalities in our region in an effort to achieve the commissioners' goal of a regional minimum wage."

A table that was presented to the Boulder County Commissioners with the Oct. 31 email accompanies this article. The table presents a potential scenario based on three assumptions: Boulder County's minimum wage ordinance remains unchanged for unincorporated areas; the COC members, excluding the City of Boulder, opt to adhere to Colorado's state minimum wage, which as of 2024 is $14.42 per hour; and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment for Colorado's State minimum wage will be 2.7%. Currently, Colorado has the ninth-highest minimum wage in the country.

According to local business leaders, disparities in minimum wage across the county could trigger a range of adverse cascading effects. Individuals may live in one city or town while commuting to another for better wages. The result could lead to increased traffic congestion, overburdened roads not designed for high traffic volumes, and longer commuting times that reduce quality of life. This situation could foster a competitive, winner-take-all approach among municipalities, heightening economic tensions throughout the county.